When it comes to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), not every business requires a sprawling unified communications platform with enterprise-grade analytics and the price tag to match.
For some, it’s perfectly enough to have a reliable, professional phone system that works, doesn’t break the bank and doesn’t require an IT degree to set up. Fortunately, VoIPstudio and Dial9 both operate in this space.
These UK providers are pitched directly at small businesses and cost-conscious teams. Both offer competitive pricing. And both make a reasonable case for being your next business phone system.
So, which one is right for you?
Who Are VoIPstudio And Dial9 Built For?
VoIPstudio: The company was founded in London in 2010 and now serves over 60 countries internationally. Their plans are designed for companies ranging from sole traders to those with teams of up to 500 employees who want enterprise-level features without the enterprise-level price.
Dial9: This UK-based provider has deliberately focused on small businesses, startups and sole traders who are after a straightforward phone system. They pride themselves on simplicity and transparency, with hands-on support.
Features: Depth vs Simplicity
VoIPstudio: All customers, regardless of plan, get access to the full feature set right from the start. Things like call recording, IVR menus, CRM integrations and analytics are available without needing to upgrade.
The provider is particularly well-suited to teams who need call centre-style functionality from real-time monitoring to inbound queues. Users can also opt for the CX Add-on for AI-powered call transcription and call summaries, though this is an additional cost.
However, neither of the standard plans offer unlimited outbound minutes. Minutes are also allocated per user, not pooled across the team so unused minutes can’t be redistributed between employees.
Dial9: The core features cover everything from a UK landline number, call forwarding, IVR menus and time-based routing. Call recording is an optional add-on, charged at 0.5p per minute – this keeps costs proportional to usage.
What they don’t offer in depth, they certainly make up for in execution. Existing users consistently describe the portal as being clean and easy to navigate, specifically for non-technical users in mind.
Their Pricing Is Competitive, But Structured Differently
VoIPstudio: Two standard plans are available. The Pay-As-You-Go starts at £6/user/month with outbound calls charged at 1p per minute. For businesses with inbound-focused calls, it’s a smart option. The 2K Bundle is £20/user/month with 2,000 outbound minutes to more than 45 countries and one inbound number per user.
Both plans have the full VoIPstudio feature set with 24/7 technical support and unlimited inbound calls. For companies with more complex needs, there is an Enterprise option available with custom pricing.
CX Add-on costs roughly £14/user/month over and above the plan you’re paying for so the costs can rack up quite quickly on a per-user basis.
Dial9: Plans start from £4.99/phone/month which includes 60 UK landline and mobile minutes. An unlimited UK calls upgrade is available for £9.99/month/phone. There are no setup fees or fixed contracts – a great selling points for smaller businesses looking to stay agile.
Overall, their pricing is transparent and straightforward. Call recording is the only notable add-on, charged per minute of recorded calls instead of a monthly fee.
Ease Of Use And Support
VoIPstudio: They are known for their call quality and reliability, but the admin backend can take some time to get used to. It can be a bit of a learning curve, especially for non-technical admins. Fortunately, customer support is available 24/7 to guide users through any potential issues.
The mobile app has reportedly had some occasional issues with incoming calls, but is usually resolved with an app restart.
Dial9: Customers often mention excellent customer support in their reviews. The portal is user-friendly and the setup process is designed to be manageable without extensive technical expertise.
If you’re connecting physical handsets, it’s helpful to have some basic familiarity with VoIP or SIP, as their setup documentation for hardware could be more detailed. With that said, the support team can walk you through it if needed.
Should You Choose VoIPstudio Or Dial9?
Put simply, VoIPstudio gives you more to work with but Dial9 makes everything easier to work with.
VoIPstudio is the ideal option if you need a feature-rich platform at a competitive price. More specifically, if you need IVR, analytics and CRM integrations without paying the premium that the bigger platforms tend to charge. The fact that you get all features right from day one is quite generous and the pay-as-you-go plan is hard to beat for teams focused on inbound-calling.
On the other hand, Dial9 is well-suited to smaller businesses who just need a simple, reliable, UK-based VoIP service with good customer support and transparent pricing. The feature set covers everything that most small teams will actually use and the lack of long-term contracts means there’s very little risk in giving it a go.
